YOURLS
Self-HostedOpen-source self-hosted URL shortener with analytics
Overview
YOURLS is a lightweight, open-source URL shortener that lets you host your own link-shortening service instead of relying on third-party tools. Key features include custom short URLs, real-time click analytics (with geolocation and referrer data), a REST API for automation, plugin support for extending functionality (like password protection or QR codes), and multi-user access control. It deploys easily on LAMP stacks or via Docker, giving you full control over your data and eliminating dependency on commercial services like Bitly.
Self-Hosting Resources
Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml.
⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.
version: '3'
services:
yourls:
image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
container_name: yourls
ports:
- "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
volumes:
- ./data:/app/data
restart: unless-stopped Key Features
- Custom short URLs
- Detailed click analytics
- REST API for automation
- Plugin ecosystem
- Multi-user access control
Frequently Asked Questions
? Is YOURLS hard to install?
YOURLS is relatively easy to install with basic server knowledge. It supports LAMP stacks (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) or Docker for simplified deployment. Official docs provide step-by-step guides for both methods, including database setup and configuration.
? Is it a good alternative to Bitly?
Yes! Unlike Bitly (which has free-tier limits and third-party data collection), YOURLS is fully open-source and self-hosted. It offers unlimited custom links, detailed analytics, and no subscription fees—ideal for users wanting full control over their URL data.
? Is YOURLS completely free?
Yes. YOURLS is released under the MIT License, so it’s 100% free to use, modify, and distribute. You only incur costs for your own hosting (if self-hosting) or server resources.
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Tool Info
Pros
- ⊕ Full control over URL data
- ⊕ Extensible via plugins and API
- ⊕ Unlimited custom links
Cons
- ⊖ Requires server setup (LAMP/Docker)
- ⊖ Basic technical knowledge for installation
- ⊖ No built-in CDN support